Thornless Blackberry Oregon Thornless - Rubus fruticosus

The Oregon Thornless Blackberry, also known as Rubus fruticosus or Blackberry Bramble, shows rapid growth and produces an abundance of large, delicious and sweet black fruits. It is a particularly vigorous and productive, hardy variety that should be trained along a wall or on a sturdy trellis. It is a self-fertile variety that yields a bountiful harvest in September and October. The fruits are great for making jams, jellies or pies. As a bonus, this Blackberry Bramble is thornless and its highly dissected foliage is particularly ornamental. It can be planted in ordinary, not too dry to moist soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Rubus fruticosus Oregon Thornless belongs to the large and important Rosaceae family, which gives us so many ornamental species (Roses of course, but also Photinia, Cotoneaster, Amelanchier...) as well as most of our temperate climate fruits (Pear, Apple, Cherry, Peach, Apricot, Plum...). The genus Rubus itself is extremely diverse, with probably a thousand species worldwide. Some are ornamental, with decorative or aesthetically pleasing flowers or white shoots, as in Rubus thibetanus. Others have culinary value, such as raspberries (Rubus idaeus) and blackberries (Rubus fruticosus).
"Oregon Thornless" is ornamental and produces of delicious fruits... a double delight for the garden! It is a perennial climbing plant that reaches maturity in two years, reaching about 2m (7ft) high or more with a width of 1.5 to 2m (5 to 7ft). The fairly dark green foliage is semi-evergreen in winter and composed of highly dissected and even jagged and toothed leaves, with visible veins. This unique foliage has real ornamental value, especially as it turns dark red in cold climates in autumn before eventually falling. The stems are thornless and only live until they bear fruit (2 years), being replaced gradually by suckers emerging from the base. Each year, the stems that have borne fruit should be pruned back to two buds. The abundant and nectar-rich flowering consists of numerous small white, 1.5 to 2cm (1in) diameter flowers, grouped in clusters in June and July. The subsequent fruits are formed by drupes clustered on the receptacle. They are large and turn from red to black when ripe, in September and October. They should be picked when fully black, as they are then sweet and slightly tart, and can be eaten fresh, frozen, used in pies or made into jam.

Oregon Thornless Blackberry with its jagged leaves is to blackberries what Chasselas Cioutat, a mutation of Chasselas with parsley-like foliage, is to grapes. It is an ornamental and edible plant that delights the senses. For variety, plant it alongside grapes, such as the Fragola Bianca Grape Vine, a variety that produces seedless white-pink berries with a surprising aroma similar to wild strawberries. The Vitikiwi Kiwai, or Actinidia arguta, with its small and sweet fruits in the same season will also delight your taste buds.